Vanessa Sarno apologizes for ‘unexpected’ Paris Olympics showing

Vanessa Sarno of the the Philippines competes during the women’s 71kg weightlifting event, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

MANILA, Philippines–The expectations weighed heavily on the shoulders of Vanessa Sarno on Saturday being the lone Filipino weightlifter remaining in the Paris Olympics.

The burden proved too much for the 20-year-old Sarno, whose debut at the Summer Games ended early after she failed all three attempts in snatch in the women’s 71kg weightlifting.

Sarno, tagged as the heir apparent of Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, offered no excuses for her performance.

READ: Vanessa Sarno makes early exit in Olympic debut

“What happened was really unexpected,” said Sarno in Filipino in an interview with One Sports.

“I apologize to the people who got disappointed because of what happened but I hope you all are still proud of me.”

The pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol suffered the same fate as John Ceniza, whose campaign at South Paris Arena also didn’t last long after registering a no lift in the men’s 61kg snatch.

The Philippines’ other weightlifter Elreen Ando, meanwhile, finished sixth in the women’s 59kg event on Thursday.

READ: Vanessa Sarno proves skeptics wrong with Paris Olympics slot

Sarno promises to be back in the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028.

“Somehow, I still fought for the Philippines in the Olympics, I fought and tried up to the last attempt that my coaches were telling me that they trust me that I could do it,” Sarno said.

“Watch out for me in the next Olympics,” she added.